I find that each of the Catholic Themes co-relate and each one, sort of “begets” another. These are the three themes that I consider essential in an elementary classroom. Faith: as central to maintaining a Catholic Christian life, if students are instructed in matters of faith and if their faith in God and His plan are nourished in school, a strong foundation is built. This foundation will have to be able to strengthen and encourage in times of doubt, misery, illness, etc. Faith will help us to forgive each other – leading to greater understanding of others and peaceful learning communities. Community and the Common Good: is essential to helping children understand that it is “not all about them”..that in order to build a city of God, we need to put others’ needs first. Concerning ourselves with the greater community and the common good leads to all sorts of selfless deeds of service and respect for differences, etc. Mystery Wonder and Awe: keeps us constantly in tune with the miracle of life and all God’s creations. Nurturing a sense of wonder helps to remind us to respect the gifts of life given by God (nature, water, birth, the stars and planets, etc.). Respect for that which we can not explain will help us to remember to always give glory to God.
I believe Groome is suggesting that we deliver the Word of God and the message of our Faith to our students by:
engaging with our students using examples and stories from their everyday life;
walking alongside our students as we journey together – giving credence to their stories, listening to what they have to say; integrating life with the Christian story by showing the connectedness of what Jesus said to how we must live today;
taking the initiative to invite students to know Jesus’ story and learn from it and try to become part of it.
I think I have done a fair job of engaging students in the story of our Faith by relating to everyday experiences – it is easy to find examples on a daily basis of how we are or are not acting and speaking as people of God. Where I am challenged is in the invitation to students to live the story of Jesus…how do I tangibly invite them and how do I gauge their response? I also wonder if I listen to their stories often enough or if I need to be reminded that each child comes with a predisposition towards God and our faith…as young as each one might be – they have something “to report” on what their experience of God has been.
Faith in Action
Christian faith is demonstrated in a Catholic teacher when she uses her hands to perform only good service for students, colleagues, parents, community – she puts into action the gentleness with which she demands her students’ treat one another. The Catholic teacher demonstrates Christian faith as a way of her heart when she shows trust in her relationships with others. She trusts that her students will produce their best work, she trusts that her administrator will help encourage and guide her when she needs help, she trusts that the love she gives her students will be reciprocated and given freely to others. A Catholic teacher shows that her faith is engaging the head as she continues to seek out the truth in Scripture, reads and interprets the stories of Jesus and makes a connection to her own life, and believes that there is a way for wonder, awe and mystery to co-exist with and compliment the tangible, daily realities of our society today.
I am on a faith journey in recent years, which has already alerted me to a need for me to be more cognizant of ways – other than prayer – to deepen my relationship with Jesus. Two practices suggested by Groome that I would like to comment on are: Encounter Jesus in the Poor, and Make a Foundation Prayer. I am shortly going to encounter many poor, hungry, homeless Haitians. This country is one of the poorest in the world. I expect that on this trip…in some way…I will encounter Jesus. And I don’t just expect to see Him in the poor…but also in those who come to serve. Making a Foundation Prayer is something that I would like to begin for myself...
Foundation Prayer (A first draft)
Heavenly Father, Thank you for your nourishing love. Help me to live my faith in all my words, thoughts and deeds today. Send me the Holy Spirit to guide me as I try to model a life lived in right relationship with you, for my students and for all those I come in contact with. Let my light shine brightly. When it doesn't, forgive me and give me the grace to try again tomorrow. In your holy name I pray, Amen.
Where do I go from here?
Reflections
Faith: as central to maintaining a Catholic Christian life, if students are instructed in matters of faith and if their faith in God and His plan are nourished in school, a strong foundation is built. This foundation will have to be able to strengthen and encourage in times of doubt, misery, illness, etc. Faith will help us to forgive each other – leading to greater understanding of others and peaceful learning communities.
Community and the Common Good: is essential to helping children understand that it is “not all about them”..that in order to build a city of God, we need to put others’ needs first. Concerning ourselves with the greater community and the common good leads to all sorts of selfless deeds of service and respect for differences, etc.
Mystery Wonder and Awe: keeps us constantly in tune with the miracle of life and all God’s creations. Nurturing a sense of wonder helps to remind us to respect the gifts of life given by God (nature, water, birth, the stars and planets, etc.). Respect for that which we can not explain will help us to remember to always give glory to God.
- engaging with our students using examples and stories from their everyday life;
- walking alongside our students as we journey together – giving credence to their stories, listening to what they have to say; integrating life with the Christian story by showing the connectedness of what Jesus said to how we must live today;
- taking the initiative to invite students to know Jesus’ story and learn from it and try to become part of it.
I think I have done a fair job of engaging students in the story of our Faith by relating to everyday experiences – it is easy to find examples on a daily basis of how we are or are not acting and speaking as people of God. Where I am challenged is in the invitation to students to live the story of Jesus…how do I tangibly invite them and how do I gauge their response? I also wonder if I listen to their stories often enough or if I need to be reminded that each child comes with a predisposition towards God and our faith…as young as each one might be – they have something “to report” on what their experience of God has been.Faith in Action
Christian faith is demonstrated in a Catholic teacher when she uses her hands to perform only good service for students, colleagues, parents, community – she puts into action the gentleness with which she demands her students’ treat one another. The Catholic teacher demonstrates Christian faith as a way of her heart when she shows trust in her relationships with others. She trusts that her students will produce their best work, she trusts that her administrator will help encourage and guide her when she needs help, she trusts that the love she gives her students will be reciprocated and given freely to others. A Catholic teacher shows that her faith is engaging the head as she continues to seek out the truth in Scripture, reads and interprets the stories of Jesus and makes a connection to her own life, and believes that there is a way for wonder, awe and mystery to co-exist with and compliment the tangible, daily realities of our society today.
I am on a faith journey in recent years, which has already alerted me to a need for me to be more cognizant of ways – other than prayer – to deepen my relationship with Jesus. Two practices suggested by Groome that I would like to comment on are: Encounter Jesus in the Poor, and Make a Foundation Prayer. I am shortly going to encounter many poor, hungry, homeless Haitians. This country is one of the poorest in the world. I expect that on this trip…in some way…I will encounter Jesus. And I don’t just expect to see Him in the poor…but also in those who come to serve. Making a Foundation Prayer is something that I would like to begin for myself...
Foundation Prayer (A first draft)
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your nourishing love. Help me to live my faith in all my words, thoughts and deeds today. Send me the Holy Spirit to guide me as I try to model a life lived in right relationship with you, for my students and for all those I come in contact with. Let my light shine brightly. When it doesn't, forgive me and give me the grace to try again tomorrow. In your holy name I pray, Amen.